Okoa Kenya unstoppable, say seven Cord lawmakers

Seven Cord MPs have vowed that the Okoa Kenya referendum push is unstoppable and the only way the constitution can be protected.
The MPs said they will continue with the campaigns to ensure all the loopholes in the constitution are sealed.
They include Agostino Neto (Ndhiwa), George Oner (Rangwe), James Rege (Karachuonyo), Jared Opiyo (Awendo), Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), David Ochieng (Ugenya) and Ken Okoth of Kibra.
They cited land issues, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and equitable distribution of job opportunities as some of the issues they want addressed.
Speaking at Kendu Bay, Homa Bay county, during the launch of the signature collection on Wednesday, Rege said the constitution was not debated before it was passed and has a number of loopholes.
“The constitution had a number of errors, but we agreed to ammend them after its passage. Now is the time,” he said.
The MPs accused the government of discrimination in national appointments.
Neto said since the Jubilee took over power, most of the "powerful" positions have been awarded to the President and Deputy President's cronies.
“One of the issues in our quest for the referendum is that every community gets a fair distribution of government appointments. We cannot have a government made up of two tribes,” he said.
Oner said they want the constitution amended so that every community in the country can access title deeds.
“This issue where some communities cannot get title deeds for their land to enable them access loans must stop and this can only be done through a referendum,” he said.
Obura, Ochieng and Okoth insisted that the IEBC must be sent home so that the country can have a new electoral body, which can deliver free and fair elections.
They said the IEBC, in their audit report, admitted that they had multiple registrations, BVR kits were improperly procured, and this shows that the elections were not free and fair.
 “We are not just taking them home, but they must also be charged in court,” Okoth said.
Speaking at Rangwe, Opiyo hit at those claiming that it is early for a referendum, saying the vote can be held at any time.
“We must ensure we protect the constitution, which we overwhelmingly voted for. We must amend it to make it better,” he said